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Tornado in Todd County, South Dakota
40 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 40 tornado events in Todd County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
June is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 16 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.1% of the 1,947 tornado events recorded in South Dakota; its 2.9 per 100 square miles compares with 2.6 statewide.
By rating: 27 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Dakota
| Measure | Todd County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 40 | 1,947 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 43.1 | 21.7 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 19 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
3May
9Jun
13Jul
11Aug
2Sep
2Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 40 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 2025 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.0M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 27 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2016 | Tornado | EF2 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | $500 | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1979 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1966 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1966 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1966 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 1962 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1962 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1960 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Todd County had?
40 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Todd County?
20 Jul 2025 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Todd County?
The tornado of 27 Apr 2025, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.0M.
How does Todd County compare with South Dakota for tornado?
2.9 events per 100 square miles against 2.6 statewide; the county holds 40 of the state's 1,947 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.